Acupuncture for uremic pruritus: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Dermatology
• Integrative Medicine
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Uremic pruritus (UP), also known as chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP), is a significant and challenging dermatological symptom for patients undergoing chronic kidney disease (CKD) treatment.
• While several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest acupuncture's therapeutic potential for UP/CKD-aP, the existing evidence base requires further consolidation and evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture interventions for managing uremic pruritus (UP/CKD-aP) in adult patients.
• To synthesize current evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to inform clinical practice and healthcare decision-making.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of multiple electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, CBM, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, ICTRP, ClinicalTrials.gov) will be conducted up to August 31, 2024.
• Eligible studies include RCTs in English and Chinese involving adult UP/CKD-aP patients treated with acupuncture compared to control groups (no treatment, placebo, sham acupuncture, or other therapies).
• Primary outcome is the change in pruritus severity assessed by validated scales; meta-analysis or qualitative synthesis will be employed for data analysis.

Main Results:

• This systematic review will provide an updated synthesis of evidence from RCTs investigating acupuncture for UP/CKD-aP.
• The findings will highlight the current state of evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture as a treatment modality for this condition.

Conclusions:

• Anticipated challenges include heterogeneity in outcome measures and acupuncture techniques across studies.
• The synthesized evidence is expected to benefit patients by informing healthcare decisions and potentially guiding the implementation of feasible care models for UP/CKD-aP.